A Michigan court said that parents no longer have the right to decide whether or not their children should be vaccinated. They were stripped of their parental right to decide on the matter after they were deemed as unfit parents.
Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued a ruling regarding the parental right of unfit parents to decide whether or not their kids should be vaccinated. These parents have adamantly opposed the state from immunizing their kids based on religious grounds.
Said Court of Appeals ruled that the moment these parents were rendered "unfit," they have already lost their right to decide on their kids' vaccination. The four children, all under the age of six, were brought under the care of the state after social welfare reported that they were underfed and improperly cared for, as per Parenting report.
When these kids became wards of the state, having been removed from their homes, the state then had the full right to have them immunized for their own well-being. This decision has been very sound as it is also favorable for the public at large.
According to Kitchen Stewardship, Michigan laws regarding vaccine exemptions used to be most lenient. Said laws used to allow objections based on religious, medical and philosophical grounds. In the light of the recent ruling, however, it is possible that this could pave the way for a huge change on how Michigan vaccine exemption laws are crafted and implemented.
Since the court has ruled that unfit parents can no longer decide whether or not to have their children vaccinated, this ruling might be incorporated into Michigan laws. Subsequent to such incorporation, there would be no need to go to court to oppose such a move by the state as the latter will now have the right to vaccinate the child once they have been taken away from the custody of their parents.
Is this a harsh move by the court? Will it be for the benefit of children if such a ruling will be subsequently incorporated into Michigan vaccine exemption laws? What do you think about the parental rights of unfit parents? Feel free to share your thoughts about these laws in the Comments section below.
